He took voluntary redundancy

bunny999

SuziQ wrote: »

OP, aren't you just a little irritated by your husband over this? Why on earth he didn't just say he was looking for full time work I don't understand. Also, part time work can work really well doing unsocial hours- I did that with NHSDirect, working the evenings, weekends and nights that no-one else wanted to do, and the higher pay at those times meant I earned almost as much as the day staff doing more hours. I would be thoroughly annoyed if my husband wanted to 'have a holiday,spend more time with the kids,getting fit and do the house up', rather than work hard for the family as many hours as I was!

This would have been FRAUD.

amanda40

My Dh also took VR in December - he signs on for Conts based JSA and is only looking for part time work - he has made this clear to the job centre. This gives him his NI credit too. He has worked for 30 years so is entitled to get something back after years of paying into the system.

DigForVictory

MyRubyRed - my fault, not being clear! far as I can tell to date, you're right & he's not on for owt as I'm "earning too much" (Gods how I wish. Just had to reshoe the boys & we're on baked beans & all the free ents we can afford to get to this Bank Holiday! Thank good for Old Style cuisine, which mean the baked beans are not mandatory unless the grownups are utterly crackered!)
Sorry, "Mother's stamp" is indeed Home Responsibilities Protection & yes I've had to change the bank account child benefit is paid into so it has his name on...(!)
I wonder where he heard the phrase...

nannytone I love the guy & try not to nag. He keeps me together as I earn the crusts, but we come from different money backgrounds & sometimes they clash. With this chunk of him not working, I just lack the safety net of career break where I knew he'd have a job to go to after 5 years. We've had the letters saying we get nothing, not IBJSA or CBCSA & certainly not IS, so this time I just have to trust him to get a job as soon as he reckons we need the money more than he's enjoying the fun. Something I really hope not to live to regret!

SuziQ "a little irritated" - yes, but if I want to stay married & relax knowing the lads are getting the best childcare money cannot buy, then my options are a little restricted. I'm more stressed by the Bad Mother worry - I feel as if I should be looking after the kids, more patient, more EarthMother-y & I'm not as good with them as he is. So unless they need a driver (not an ambulance but wheeled backup to the school first aider) they don't need me qua Mummy but in a more Dad-ish way. Which feels really lumpy, but there you go. Eldest has SATS & then Big School, so I'm not as gutted about it as I could be. (My boss is pleased. She was worrying I was putting the family first & the job second. Any comment I might make could be libel!)

FireFox - we've hacked back general spending using a range of MSE tips & tricks & I'm thankful for it, but he hasn't had that light bulb moment. Yet!

Many thanks for all your comments & support!